Yachting: Winning 'home' leg is priority for NZ crews

By JULIE ASH in Sydney

Being the first boat home to Auckland is the aim of all New Zealanders in leg three of the round-the-world race, which starts in Sydney today.

With 27 New Zealanders involved in the race, getting to Auckland first is a priority.

"We all want to head the fleet into Auckland," illbruck watch captain Stuart Bannatyne said.

After two legs, illbruck has the overall lead over News Corp and Amer Sport One.

SEB, Assa Ablo, djuice, Tyco and Amer Sports Too follow.

For the first time, the fleet will join in the Sydney to Hobart event.

They will start 200m ahead of the Sydney to Hobart fleet of nearly 70 boats. Once they get to Hobart, the round-the-world yachts will stop for three-and-a-half hours before continuing on to Auckland.

Bannatyne has raced in two round-the-world events. He was on Silk Cut in 1997-98 and on Endeavour in 1993-94.

He said that considering the weather forecast, the sprint from Sydney to Hobart was going to be a challenge on its own.

"It looks like it will be a light start out of Sydney, but then down the coast we are expecting more than 30 knots of winds and big waves," he said.

"It will be quite slow because it is a headwind, which will suit the larger maxis in the Sydney to Hobart fleet. But it won't be very nice."

News Corp navigator Ross Field, competing in his fifth round-the-world race, is also keen to ensure his boat is first into the City of Sails.

"I think the last time I was first into Auckland was when I was with Peter Blake on Steinlager 2. So it would be really good to repeat that," he said.

Field, of Auckland, said News Corp had made several crew changes for this leg.

"We have brought on Gordon McGuire full-time. He is an Irish sailor residing in Australia.

"Watch leader Steve Cotton is going into a more tactical role and we've brought on Peter Isler, who is the tactician navigator for Stars and Stripes. So that will strengthen our boat-to- boat tactics."

Field said the third leg would suit the heavier Farr-designed boats.

Amer Sports One and djuice Dragons are the only boats in the fleet that are not Farr designed.

"Our boat is very strong, it is a very good upwind boat. I would be very surprised if the conditions suit the [Amer Sports One ] Frers boat and they definitely won't suit the [djuice Dragons] Davidson boat.

He said the shorter leg to Auckland called for new tactics.

"You go out harder, but you also have to pace yourself. You can't stay awake for nine days to Auckland.

"You can stay awake and keep pushing for two days, but you are going to arrive in Hobart not in very good shape.

"You have to pace yourself and when you get to Hobart make sure you are in good shape because you still have five or six days back to Auckland."

Once they arrive at Auckland, the round-the-world fleet would have sailed halfway around the world, but have only completed three legs of the nine-leg race.

"Among the top boats the calibre is a lot higher than it has ever been. The boats are being pushed harder and it is generally more intense," Field said.

"It would be ideal if illbruck didn't win any more, but they are sailing very well."

Sharon Ferris, a trimmer/helmsman on the all-female Amer Sports Too, said that for her, Sydney to Hobart was going to be an adventure.

"I am really looking forward to going home and sailing into Auckland. It has been a dream of mine for 14 years," the 27-year-old from the Bay of Islands said.

"The leg is shorter, you are not very far from land and getting there, you are not in the Southern Ocean dodging icebergs."

The first round-the-world race was held in 1973-74 and involved 17 yachts. The winner was Mexico's Sayula II.

Since the mid-1980s the race has attracted a large number New Zealanders.

All the boats in this year's race have at least one involved in the campaign.

A special tribute to Sir Peter Blake will be held before the start of today's leg.

The boats will leave the dock together, form a circle with their sterns and the crew will throw wreaths into the harbour before observing a minute's silence.